An Unprecedented Record

Cho Heun, the Grade Dean, spoke as if he couldn't wait another second. "H-hurry and begin the grading. There is one specific exam paper I need to see the results for first."

Every teacher in the room knew exactly which student he was referring to. Even without Cho Heun’s prodding, the instructors were already diving into the stacks. During this Herbalism exam, Cho ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Heun had personally monitored the entire process through a Mystic Array, watching Bukjin’s every move from start to finish.

While he couldn't see the specific answers being written on the paper floating atop the desk, he was absolutely certain of one thing: Bukjin had not resorted to any tricks or cheating. However, Bukjin’s posture and the sheer speed at which he had scribbled down his answers were identical to the previous exam.

'Will it be another perfect score?'

That was the question burning in every teacher's mind. Time flew by, and half an hour later, the grading was complete.

"I have one perfect score among the papers I graded," Teacher No Hu said, standing up with a look of pure disbelief.

"Quickly! Check the name!" Cho Heun barked.

Outside the examination hall, by the stone pillar.

"My god, is this for real?"

"Another perfect score?"

"H-how is this even possible?"

"He’s twelve points ahead of second place. This makes no sense!"

"It’s... it’s almost terrifying."

Shocked voices from the second-year students erupted from every direction. Every student gathered in front of the pillar was staring at the name etched at the very top.

It was another perfect score. Im Bukjin stood at the peak. Mok Simwol, who took second place, had only managed an 88. Musae followed in third with 87, Sa Sin-rim in fourth with 85, and Go Min in fifth with 84. Oh Sobang had plummeted to sixth place with a mere 82 points. It was clear to everyone that Oh Sobang had made numerous mistakes during this round.

"T-this is impossible," Oh Sobang muttered, his face turning ashen. He hadn't just failed to surpass Bukjin; he was trailing by a staggering eighteen points. That gap felt like an abyss, plunging him into a state of total shock.

Not far away, Mok Simwol was reeling from a mixture of shock and fury. Her rage was no less than Oh Sobang’s. Just like the previous exam, she was second. In terms of rank, it was only a one-step difference, but in terms of score, the gap was twelve points. Those twelve points stood between her and Bukjin like an insurmountable wall.

'How on earth did that damn bastard do it?'

In the past, Bukjin’s grades had been so pathetic they were painful to look at. But now, back-to-back perfect scores?

'Was he acting this whole time? Is he actually some kind of hidden genius?'

A chill ran down Mok Simwol’s spine. Deep in her heart, a tiny sprout of regret began to grow, unbidden.

'No, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't regret it. Not for a second! Im Bukjin, don't you dare get cocky! The written exams only account for thirty percent of the total score. No matter how many perfect scores you get, your true colors will be exposed during the martial arts duels!'

Mok Simwol clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. Around her, the other "geniuses" of the second year were staring at the stone pillar with expressions of utter denial. They could accept losing to another genius, but losing to Bukjin—the notorious "trash of all trash"—was a humiliation they couldn't stomach.

In that moment, Im Bukjin became Public Enemy Number One for every elite student in the second year.

Four hours later.

The first day of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition concluded with the final written exam. The geniuses of the 3rd Academy were left with a bitter taste in their mouths. The results for the final subject, Mystic Theory, had been posted.

The name 'Im Bukjin' sat at the very top of the stone pillar once again, like an inescapable phantom.

His score for the final exam? 100 points. Again.

The infamous delinquent, the good-for-nothing Im Bukjin, had swept the first day with three consecutive perfect scores. There were three written subjects in total, and Bukjin had conquered them all perfectly. When the final results were revealed, even the most veteran teachers stumbled back in shock.

His performance was flawless. Across all the numerous junior academies in Unmong City currently holding their competitions, not a single student had achieved perfect scores in all three subjects. Im Bukjin’s achievement was more than just a high score; it was a record. An unprecedented, historic record.

The entire second-year student body had been utterly dominated by a single person. It was a clean, absolute, and undeniable victory. Even the top-tier geniuses—Oh Sobang, Mok Simwol, Go Min, Sa Sin-rim, and Musae—had to acknowledge it. They knew that even if they were given ten more chances, they wouldn't be able to produce such a monstrous result.

They stood frozen, forced to endure the weight of Bukjin’s success. A counterattack? Against an absolute score like that, it was impossible. On the first day of the competition, the geniuses of the second year found themselves trampled under Bukjin’s feet.

"Immediately seal the Mystic Array recordings of Im Bukjin taking his exams and report them to the Unmong City Examination Committee! I have never heard of such a thing in all my years. The other academies will undoubtedly doubt our results. They will try to find any excuse to audit us. We must not give them a single opening!"

Cho Heun’s voice was thick with excitement as he addressed the teachers in the meeting room. He couldn't help it. Throughout his tenure, the 3rd Academy’s reputation had been dragged through the mud every year as they were outperformed by the city's other junior academies. But now, a monster had appeared. A student had recorded a score that no one had ever achieved before.

Finally, the 3rd Academy had a chance to flip the script. Cho Heun spoke with fiery intensity. Even though the written exams carried the least weight in the overall score, this was an unprecedented feat. It was a situation worth celebrating. A record was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a record, and this one was unbreakable.

Cho Heun was already imagining the upcoming Academic Exchange. He could see himself standing before the Grade Deans of other academies, dropping the bombshell that his school had produced a student with a perfect sweep of the written exams. To make that dream a reality, every record of this exam had to be preserved perfectly. He had to prove to the skeptics that there was no foul play.

"Dean Cho, rest assured. Everything has already been sealed and stored. No matter who comes to investigate, they won't find a single flaw," No Hu said, his voice equally animated. He had been the one to grade all three of Bukjin’s papers today. To him, it was a badge of honor. In time, this would become a story he’d brag about for years. He was already starting to favor Bukjin.

"Indeed. I never imagined that delinquent would pull off something so incredible. This is a glorious moment that will be recorded in our academy's history."

"I had no idea he possessed such deep knowledge of theory."

"Come to think of it, do you all remember Im Cheong-seon?"

"Of course. Im Bukjin’s older sister. She was the greatest genius Unmong City had ever seen, making a name for herself even in the Imperial Capital. If I recall, she had two perfect scores and one 99. By just one point, Im Bukjin has actually surpassed her record."

"Two monsters from the Im family... It’s such a shame. If only it weren't for the incident with the War God..."

At the mention of the War God, the meeting room fell into a heavy silence. The students were too young to fully grasp the magnitude of who the War God, Im Geun-nam, truly was, but the teachers knew well. He was a man of legendary stature who had made immense contributions to the Empire.

Im Geun-nam had saved the people and the nation from countless crises. He was the youngest among the Empire's Ten Great Generals and the only one of commoner origin. The name War God was synonymous with myth on the battlefield. The current situation was a tragedy. The teachers couldn't help but reflect on how unpredictable the world could be.

Grade Dean Cho Heun finally broke the silence. "The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matter of the War God is unrelated to the academy, so let us speak of it no more. Im Bukjin’s outstanding performance today is a blessing for our school. Let’s wrap up for today and see if another miracle occurs during tomorrow’s practical exams."

"Do you think that's likely?"

"It seems improbable. If we only consider the written exams, a genius with exceptional memory and comprehension could potentially raise their grades in a short time. But for the practicals..."

"I agree. The two subjects of the practical exam—Mystic Energy and Martial Arts—require long years of grueling cultivation to show results. And as far as we know, Im Bukjin only possesses Level 1 Mystic Energy."

The teachers continued to debate long into the evening, speculating on how Bukjin would fare in the physical trials ahead.

The second day arrived.

The air was crisp, and the sunlight was brilliant. At the second-year training grounds, over a thousand students stood in formation, divided by their classes. Grade Dean Cho Heun stood atop a high platform, scanning the crowd. His gaze lingered for a moment on the spot where Bukjin stood.

A moment later, he signaled the start of the practical exams without wasting words on a long speech.

The practical exams were divided into two main parts. The first was the Mystic Energy evaluation. The second was the practical martial arts combat, conducted in groups. Unlike the written exams, these couldn't be performed by everyone simultaneously, so they would take place over the next three days.

This morning was dedicated to measuring Mystic Energy levels. The process was simple. Students drew lots within their classes to be assigned to groups. They would then line up at different platforms according to their group number and ascend one by one to have their energy measured by a Mystic Measuring Stone.

Bukjin drew his lot.

Bukjin made his way to the front of Platform 6, where his group was lining up, and waited for his turn.